This policy is intended to:
- Uphold the AFGE tradition of grassroots democracy;
- give more power to the AFGE members who give and raise contributions for AFGE-PAC;
- Provide incentives for our members to become politically active and to increase the size of AFGE-PAC;
- Establish a formalized process for making recommendations to AFGE-PAC for the endorsement of candidates and/or for making contributions to congressional candidates.
CANDIDATE ENDORSEMENT REQUIREMENTS
Final decisions to endorse a candidate will be made by AFGE-PAC. Candidates seeking an endorsement by AFGE-PAC must complete a questionnaire prepared by AFGE-PAC and attend, or be represented, at an interview. However, AFGE-PAC can decide to endorse a candidate based on their previous position on our issues without the necessity of completing a questionnaire. Decisions to endorse candidates will be based on such factors as the candidate’s AFGE voting record on AFGE issues, AFL-CIO voting record, AFL-CIO endorsement, whether they are a member of a congressional committee having jurisdiction over issues of concern to AFGE members, and other relevant factors. AFGE-PAC will formally notify all candidates who have been endorsed by it.
CONTRIBUTIONS TO CANDIDATES
AFGE-PAC is the sole repository of contributions made by AFGE members (current AFGE policy precludes locals, councils and districts from establishing their own PACs). Thus, AFGE-PAC will make the final decision on whether or not to make a contribution to a candidate and if so, how much should be contributed. The decisions to make contributions will be based on recommendations received pursuant to the AFGE-PAC Endorsement and Contribution Decision Processes or may be based solely on AFGEPAC’s own recommendation.
Whenever possible, checks for contributions to candidates will be distributed by District Officers, a State Political/Legislative Committee member, or Century or President Club members from the candidate’s state or congressional district. A contribution to a candidate may be made by way of the issuance of two checks; one presented in Washington, DC by an AFGE officer or a member of the Legislative or AFGE-PAC staff and another presented by a District Officer, State Political/Legislative Committee member, or a Diamond or President Club member from the candidate’s state or congressional district.
PARTICIPATION PROCESS LEVELS POLICY
There are three functional levels under which members within a District can participate in the Endorsement and Contribution decision-making processes:
Level I
A District is participating at Level I where no State AFGE Political/Legislative Committees exist within a District. In such a case, any local or District officers may make a recommendation to AFGE-PAC to endorse a candidate and/or to make a contribution to a candidate. The final decision to endorse and/or contribute shall be made by the National AFGE-PAC Committee which will include the National Vice President in whose district the endorsement/contribution is to be made.
Level II
When a State Political/Legislative Committee is established for each State within a District, the District will be participating at Level II. The members of the State Political/Legislative Committees shall consist of the Political Coordinator and the Legislative Coordinator from each local within the state who shall be appointed by the local’s president and approved by the local’s executive board unless otherwise provided by the local’s constitutions and bylaws. Each State Political/Legislative Committee shall be chaired by the District’s National Vice President or a designee.
State Political/Legislative Committees shall meet to consider requests for AFGE-PAC’s endorsement of candidates from the State. The State Political/Legislative Committee must provide notice and an opportunity for all candidates to appear, or be represented, before the Committee and to submit responses to the AFGE-PAC questionnaires. After the interviews and a review of the questionnaires submitted, the State Political/Legislative Committee will take a formal vote on the request for endorsement and forward the results to AFGE-PAC for consideration.
The recommendation for endorsement will be accepted by AFGE-PAC unless it conflicts with the interests of AFGE as determined by AFGE-PAC. In such an event, AFGE-PAC shall contact the Chair of the State Political/Legislative Committee and attempt to resolve the conflict. If the conflict cannot be resolved, then the candidate shall not be endorsed and AFGE will remain officially neutral in the race.
In the case of incumbents who have worked closely with AFGE, AFGE-PAC may send a recommendation for endorsement through the National Vice President to the appropriate State Political/Legislative Committee. Such recommendations may include those of candidates whose voting records may not reflect their overall assistance to AFGE in such ways as sponsoring amendments, committee votes, etc.
State Political/Legislative Committees may also make recommendations to AFGE-PAC to make a contribution to a candidate and such recommendation may or may not be accompanied by a recommendation to endorse the candidate.
Level III
The amount of all contributions raised (through allotment, credit card, bank draft, events or premium sales), and contributed to AFGE-PAC shall be tracked by District on an annual basis. Beginning on January 1, 1998, whenever the total contributions to AFGE-PAC from individuals within any AFGE District exceed a sum equal to $.50 (fifty cents) per member per year for each of the preceding two years, then the District will be participating at Level III. The total amount needed to reach Level III participation shall be based on the average membership for the preceding two years based on the number of members in the District as of January 1 each year, as determined by the National Secretary-Treasurer. A District achieves Level III participation by meeting the above criteria and that of Level II requiring State Political/Legislative Committees. After a District has achieved Level III participation, 60% of the total AFGE-PAC contributions received from members within the District shall be disbursed by AFGE-PAC upon the request and recommendation of the District’s State Political/Legislative Committees and in accordance with law.
The remaining contributions to AFGE-PAC coming from a District participating at Level III, shall be contributed to candidates as AFGE-PAC determines including decisions to increase the contributions recommended by State Political/Legislative Committees or decisions to make party or committee contributions.
This policy is intended to decentralize the AFGE-PAC endorsement and contribution decision making processes. By decentralizing these processes and placing more responsibility and authority for raising funds and endorsing candidates in the districts and states, all AFGE political activists are empowered. Leaders and members feel that they are a meaningful part of the grassroots network because they make the decisions.
|
